View full sizeDerry Church Bakery bakes everything from scratch including vanilla bean cupcakes, croissants and eclairs as well as breads. It opened May 18 at St. John's Place in Hampden Twp.Sue Gleiter, PennLive.com

But don't get caught up in the fact the bakery operates on the West Shore at 4401 Carlisle Pike in Hampden Twp.

Owner Eric Cayton wanted a location for the vintage Euro-style bakery in Hershey, but couldn't track down real estate at a reasonable price. So he settled on the small St. John's Place strip center, also home to Marie's Cafe and Philadelphia Steaks & Hoagies near Camp Hill.

The bakery opened May 18. Gradually, Cayton is building up the inventory.

Sourdough breads will appear on the shelves this week, all made in the European tradition with a levain French style starter.

"We are trying to do something special here. Something you can't find everywhere," Cayton said.

"The one thing I can tell people when they come in here ..it's the real thing," he added.

Because everything is made from scratch, Cayton said breads and pastries will be available in limited quantities. Bread selection will vary from day to day, and include baguettes, batards, focaccia, ciabatta and sourdough whole wheat.

For several years, Cayton operated Derry Church Artisan Chocolates near Mechanicsburg. The shop specialized in 27 types of handmade French style bonbons made from high-quality ingredients. He plans to bring back the chocolates in the fall.

Cayton is self-taught. He has been reading and testing recipes since the 1980s.

"It's all I've ever done. It's the tradition behind the story. My grandmother influenced me. She showed me the difference between doing this by hand and mixes," he said.

Customers can take a seat at one of a half dozen tables in the bakery. The walls are lined with murals detailing the history of Derry Church.

Prices range from $1.90 for muffins to $3.50 for baguettes, $14 for 8-inch fruit pies and $29 for 8-inch cheesecakes. Some items, such as cakes, require advance ordering.

The bakery is open 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. The phone is (717) 761-1155.